Running Head: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature Review
Krystle Rivera
TL 7740
10 May 2021
Literature Review
In “Extending Our Beliefs about Effective Learning Environments: A Tale of Two Learners,”
Susan Villaume and Shannon Brandt take a look at how to modify pre–conceived notions of the
appropriate ways in which to teach our students. They took a look at what the most revered beliefs of
effective learning environments entailed, and pushed uncomfortable limitations to challenge teaching
styles that have been followed for decades. One of the most important findings for their study was
that, in their case, as well as many others, our teaching did not result in the desired learning as
anticipated. One of the first corrections mentioned, is that teachers need to begin creating a curriculum
within the interactions of their classrooms, as opposed to utilizing district or textbook outlined
learning. By creating an authentic, meaningful, and personalized curriculum, there was a much larger
improvement in student success. By allowing differences to be made visible (such as in reading levels
or ability) and allowing students to name and address their reading deficiencies, the environment
created a much more open space for students to grow. Furthermore, by pushing students outside of
their comfort zones as well, they noted that their success was much improved.
In “New Approaches and Trends in the Philosophy of Educational Technology for
Learning and Teaching Environments,” the researchers aim to identify the importance of
technology and the increasing need for implementing these techniques in education in the future.
As of now, the learning process, as always, is constantly changing. More and more, we are
seeing a transition to educational technologies, whether completely or used as an integrating
component. In e-learning, instructors find they are more able to personalize instruction, and
allow students to utilize social media and mobile phones, or visual or technological landscapes to
enhance the learning process. These educational technologies allow for a more rapid delivery of
instruction and prove to be much more effective and effect methods of education. One matter
that is not addressed is the availability and access for all learners moving to this platform.
Although it is on the rise in most public schools, it is scarce in some areas and only available at
the school for many, not in their personal homes or outside the school.
In “Transforming pedagogical ethos into an effective learning environment,” authors
suggest that we move from a traditional school and education system in order to prepare students
for the future. They emphasize that what we know about how people learn now will not be the
same ten years from now. With that, we need to be able to prepare for the unpredictable future,
and allow ourselves to meld in a way in which we can benefit from education later, by truly
understanding that it will absolutely change. The factors reviewed that can help determine what
type of learning we will need are: (1) society- what do we aim to learn? (2) children – what
values do we want to teach? (3) future – accept it is hard to predict, so how can we best prepare?
